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Every time we mention Turtleboy Sports to people who have never heard of it before, they laugh. “Turtleboy? Where’d you come up with that name?” That’s a GFQ right there. Story time. When we started this blog back in late 2013 we inherited a modest group of readers. So we decided to let them decide. The Twitter handle we inherited was “@wordfromthewoo” and that was what we initially wanted to call the blog. But there was just something about it that sounded stupid.
So we put it out to the readers on Facebook. We basically said we would take the best names we heard and have a vote. That’s when someone wrote the most magical words I’ve ever heard, “Turtleboy Sports.” There would be no vote after that. It was a no-brainer really. Nothing is more Worcester than the Turtleboy statue. Nothing. Turtleboy Sports had a ring to it that no one would be able to top, so we went with it and the rest is history.
We’ve never publicly revealed the genius who came up with Turtleboy Sports until now. His name was Brian Tangney, and we’re writing this right now because he passed away on Wednesday morning after being involved in a motorcycle accident. The 25 year old Doherty High School graduate was a popular guy around town, but to us he was a legend. Without him there is no Turtleboy Sports.
Brian traveled to Haiti in January to do relief work in the impoverished island nation. His group traveled from village to village, administering basic first aid and medication – things that we take for granted in America. This woman right here lives in a remote Haitian village, miles and miles from the medical treatment that her malnourished child needed to live:
Brian put them both on his motorcycle and drove them to the closest hospital, where the baby saw a doctor and survived. Without Brian’s help the child wouldn’t be alive today.
The bottom line is that Brian Tangney is a big loss for the Turtleboy community and the world as a whole. After speaking with his family it’s been decided that the best way to show support for Brian is to donate to the Mission of Hope International, the organization that sponsored trips to Haiti like the one Brian went on. Here is the link to where you can donate. Even if you’re low on cash you can show your support by liking Mission of Hope International’s Facebook page, to see updates about the great things they’re doing over there.
The Turtleboy community pulled together for the family of Sarah Ewing, a woman that many of you had never met before. Now let’s show our support for one of our own, the man who gave Turtleboy Sports its name.
9 Comment(s)
You’re so interesting! I do not think I have read a
single thing like this before. So great to find somebody with original thoughts on this
issue. Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up.
This web site is one thing that’s needed on the internet, someone with
a little originality!
He was to graduate with my graduating class this past Thursday at QCC. At the end of the Conferral line, I believe it was his friend who respectfully, carried his mortarboard cap across the stage as his name was read for his degree in Respiratory Therapy. The entire DCU center not only applauded for his Emory, but his memory received a standing applaud. May he rest peacefully and be a role model for the next kid who wants to accomplish the many things Mr. Tangney had accomplished. My prayers and condolences to his family and friends.
Memory* not Emory
I think it may have been his cousin that carried and accepted it for him, makes me happy to hear how beautifully he was honored. Also, congratulations on your graduation!!
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Great family. Great loss.
Legit teared up at this. What a loss of a great human being.
Is there a way to designate our donations as Turtleboy related???
RIP Brian. My heart and thoughts are with his family and friends.
I love you Brian. Turtleboy, thank you for mobilizing community support and keeping his legacy alive through all of these efforts. It’s an indescribable loss and I’m still coming to grips with it, but Brian’s just an incredible person and I’m sure he’d be blown away if he could see just what kind of impact he’s left on people. Thank you again.